Fair Trade USA is expanding its scope with a new certification in the textile space. Originally conceived as an apparel program, the initiative has quickly evolved into a more comprehensive production certification.

Fair Trade has become well known in recent years in consumer goods markets such as chocolate and coffee, and now executives with the company feel the time is right for a materials-related certification.

“There is a convergence of things happening in the marketplace to make this program especially timely,” explains Maya Spaull, director of new category innovation. “Fair Trade has a huge – and growing – consumer awareness across a variety of food categories, and we see potential to take this to another consumer goods space where factories view this as a long-terms strategy.”